For the floor of a laundry and powder room, designer Jessica Hoffman of St. Charles, Mo.-based Liston Design & Build specified a 2 x 6 handmade tile in a cream tone, to be laid in a herringbone pattern. The homeowners wanted that less-than-perfect look, with a gentle undulating feel.
Above: The floor tile not only unifies the laundry and powder rooms, it also alludes to the soapstone countertops in the adjoining kitchen. Photo: Anne Matheis
After putting down about three square feet of the floor, the tile setter called Hoffman’s attention to a problem: It was impossible to install the tile in the herringbone layout that would stay even as it progressed across the floor.
Hoffman quickly addressed the problem with both the clients and the tile source. “We had many on-site meetings with the homeowners and told them we would cover the cost on whatever is selected to move forward,” she said. The manufacturer allowed Hoffman to return the special-order product and refunded the purchase.
Having exhausted the options to replicate the look and texture of the original tile, the team completely switched gears, choosing a black limestone/soapstone design that referenced the kitchen countertop and gave the three spaces a feeling of cohesion. In addition, a new contractor was brought in to finish the work.
Hoffman sums up the experience, saying, “The delay was frustrating to all parties, but the end result was better than the original selection, and we were happy about that. We finished the project when promised, and that is what the clients truly cared about.”
Sources
Design: Jessica Hoffman, Liston Design Build Photography: Anne Matheis Cabinets: Hartman Cabinetry Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs Countertops: Russo Stone Faucets, Sinks, Toilet: Premier Plumbing Flooring: Missouri Floor Company Lighting: Metro Lighting Tile: Mayfield Tile Wallpaper: JF Fabrics
